Nyjer feeders to buy: three listings checked against RSPB and BTO advice
A short buying list for nyjer (niger) seed feeders: what the BTO and RSPB say the feeder must do, three Amazon UK feeders and one seed bag checked against that, and why to skip models with a tray.
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This is the shopping list. The explainer, covering what nyjer is, which finches the RSPB names for it, and why it is not a guarantee of goldfinches, is nyjer feeders and goldfinches. Read that first if you are deciding whether to buy nyjer at all.
The sources, opened on 14 November 2026, are the BTO feeding page, the RSPB’s bird feeding page and the RSPB’s latest feeding guidance, dated 30 October 2026. Product details come from Amazon UK listings opened the same day.
We haven't tested this. Figures are as the maker states them (checked 14 November 2026).
What the feeder has to do
The BTO says nyger seeds are “so small they have to be supplied in a specially adapted feeder”. The diagram on this page shows the difference: a nyjer port is a narrow slit or a tiny hole, while an ordinary seed port is wide enough for a sunflower heart. That gives the first test. Then the RSPB’s rules for every feeder apply:
- Hanging, with no tray. The RSPB’s October 2026 guidance says not to use feeders with flat surfaces, including “feeders with trays”. Some nyjer feeders come with a seed tray or a ring tray around the base. Skip those, or remove the tray for good.
- Drains and does not hold old food. The RSPB says all feeders should drain easily and not allow a build-up of old food.
- Comes apart. You will clean it weekly, and fine ports trap wet seed.
- Right size. The RSPB says food in feeders should be eaten in one or two days. Nyjer is light and goes a long way, so a smaller feeder, or a large one filled partway, wastes less.
Embed this infographic
<a href="https://finchwold.co.uk/feeding/best-nyjer-feeders-uk/"><img src="https://finchwold.co.uk/assets/images/nyjer-feeder-checklist.webp" alt="Infographic checklist for a nyjer feeder: tiny ports, no flat tray, a drainable removable base, only one or two days of food, weekly cleaning and feeding from November to April."></a>
<p>Infographic: <a href="https://finchwold.co.uk/feeding/best-nyjer-feeders-uk/">Nyjer feeders to buy: three listings checked against RSPB and BTO advice</a> from Finchwold.</p>Three feeders
What each Amazon UK listing stated on 14 November 2026.
Peckish All Weather Metal Nyjer Seed Bird Feeder, Large
- Powder-coated metal top and base with a chrome metal tube.
- “Slim ports” designed to reduce seed loss.
- A quick-release base for cleaning and an easy-to-remove lid for refilling.
- Hangs 30 cm tall and holds approximately 700 g of nyjer, as listed.
- The listing showed “Only 6 left in stock”.
Gardman Black Steel Nyjer Seed Bird Feeder
- A metal feeder for nyjer seed and finch seed blends.
- Quick-release top and base for filling and cleaning.
- Holds 200 g of nyjer or finch blend, 19 cm high, as listed.
- The listing says it has a “feed safe biocidal coating” that kills bacteria on contact. That is the maker’s claim. It does not change the RSPB’s advice to clean weekly.
- Shown as in stock.
Honeyfield’s Hanging Wild Bird Nyjer Seed Feeder (green)
- Metal top and base with a transparent polycarbonate tube, so you can see how much is left.
- Small holes “specifically for Nyjer seeds”, a lift-up top, and a quick-release base for cleaning.
- Listed as 36.5 × 15 × 15 cm, with a 2-year manufacturer warranty. The listing does not give a seed capacity in plain words.
- Shown as in stock.
We did not include a smaller Peckish model, because its page showed it as currently unavailable, or a popular mesh tube that the listing describes with a 360-degree seed tray.
Choosing between them
There is no tested winner. The useful differences are size and what the tube is made of. The Gardman holds the least, which suits a garden where nyjer is a side feeder. The Peckish holds the most and is metal all the way down. The Honeyfield’s tube is clear, which makes it easy to see when seed is clumping or going stale. All three state a base that comes off, which is the feature that matters most for cleaning.
The seed
Peckish Nyjer Bird Seed for Wild Birds, 2 kg
- Described as oil-rich, to be fed from a specific nyjer feeder, in a resealable pack.
- The listing says the seed is “suitable to be fed to birds all year round”. The RSPB and BTO now say otherwise for seeds: feed from November to April and pause from May to October. Follow them, not the bag.
- The listing showed “Only 3 left in stock”.
A 2 kg bag is a sensible size for a single nyjer feeder over a winter. Keep it sealed, cool and dry, as in storing bird food. How nyjer compares with the other foods is in bird foods compared.
Hearts first, nyjer second
The BTO notes some suggestion that goldfinches now favour sunflower hearts, moving to nyger when the other feeders are busy, and says that may be local. If you only buy one finch feeder, a sunflower-heart tube is the safer bet; see sunflower hearts vs peanuts and bird feeder types. Add nyjer when the hearts feeder is crowded.
Keep it clean
The RSPB says bird feeder hygiene needs to be done weekly, and that if a sick bird appears you should stop feeding, clean thoroughly, and only resume after a month. Our routine is in cleaning bird feeders. With a nyjer feeder, look at the ports and the base, where wet seed collects, and let it dry before refilling.
Can I use an ordinary seed feeder for nyjer?
Not usefully. The BTO says the seeds are so small they need a specially adapted feeder. In a standard tube they fall through the ports.
Is a feeder with a seed tray better for nyjer?
The tray catches spilled seed, but the RSPB’s current guidance says not to use feeders with trays, because disease spreads more easily on flat surfaces. Choose one without a tray.
When should I put nyjer out?
The BTO and RSPB say to feed seeds and peanuts from November to April and pause from May to October. Nyjer is a seed, so this site applies the same rule.